Gunung Lebah - The Birthplace of Ubud
- Shannon
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 22
The Sacred Confluence of Life, Death and Healing
At the confluence of the Wos and Pormin rivers, forming the sacred Campuhan, Gunung Lebah Temple rises from a narrow valley, a site where the veil between worlds thins and wandering spirits are said to roam. In Balinese, “Campuhan” literally means confluence but spiritually it signifies a liminal space where energies merge, amplifying both blessings and dangers. Surrounded by dense rainforest and medicinal herbs, the temple has long been revered as a place of powerful healing, its soil and stones vibrating with energy that draws pilgrims, shamans and seekers of the unseen.
Founded in the 8th century by the Indian priest Rsi Markandeya, Gunung Lebah was conceived as a sanctuary for meditation and spiritual retreat. Markandeya had journeyed from Java with a mission to sanctify the island, establishing temples that would anchor Hindu cosmology in Bali’s terrain. While Pura Besakih on Mount Agung became the most famous of his creations, smaller temples like Gunung Lebah were vital nodes of spiritual power, deliberately positioned at energy rich junctions like the Campuhan.
The name “Gunung Lebah,” a fusion of words meaning “hill” and “valley,” reflects not just geography but spiritual resonance. Moss covered steps, carved shrines and the shadows of towering trees all channel the valley’s energy, creating a landscape alive with presence. Every plant, every stone, every bend in the river contributes to a subtle force that has been tapped for centuries in purification rituals, protective rites and ceremonies designed to harmonise the human and spirit worlds. Purification rituals form the temple’s core purpose. Sacred relics and ashes of the deceased are bathed in the rivers or carefully enshrined to maintain spiritual balance. The valley’s energies are volatile, attracting both protective spirits and darker entities. The temple’s ceremonies act as a spiritual shield, safeguarding the living while negotiating with forces that linger at the edges of perception, unseen but palpably present.
The atmosphere of Gunung Lebah is one of tension and contradiction, both serene and terrifying, healing and foreboding. Benevolent forces coexist uneasily with malevolent ones, and every ritual is a negotiation between them. Locals and pilgrims alike speak of a hum in the air, a vibration that seems to rise from the earth itself, carrying centuries of devotion, fear and reverence. The surrounding village of Ubad eventually became Ubud, Bali’s cultural and spiritual heart, but Gunung Lebah remains a threshold to older, wilder forces. Its riverbanks, shrines, and forested paths are reminders of a time when the unseen moved more freely, and the human effort to honor, protect, and commune with those forces defined everyday life. The temple is a living testament to Rsi Markandeya’s vision, a place where Bali’s spiritual history is tangible and the landscape itself is a participant in ritual.
Today, Gunung Lebah Temple stands as both refuge and liminal portal. Pilgrims arrive to meditate, shamans perform protective rites and travellers witness a valley alive with unseen currents. Every stone, every carved altar and every flow of water continues a story written over a thousand years, a story of healing, devotion, confrontation with the unknown and the enduring pulse of Bali’s sacred heart.
🗺️ Location
Jalan Raya Ubud No 23, Sayan, Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia
🚆 How to get there
Head about 2km’s west (or a brisk 10 minutes walk) from the center of Ubud towards the bridge, along the Jalan Raya road. When you arrive in front of Murnis Warung at the bottom of the hill, you will see the sign for Ibah Villas and Spa on the right hand side. From there and to your immediate left, you will see a steep pathway to the temple car park, around 300 steps down off the main road.
⭐ Attraction Info
Entry to this ancient temple is completely free and is open 24 hours a day. The inner temple is open for religious ceremonies and locals only. Standard temple dress codes apply. There is a fabulous night time view of the whole temple complex from the Jiz Restaurant and Bar about a minute further down the main road.
